Desert Canopy House by Sander Architects

Completed in 2013, the Desert Canopy House by Sander Architects is a magnificent contemporary home in Palm Springs, California. The main inspiration and challenge for this project came from its location: the forever hot city of Palm Springs and the west-facing views which had to be successfully incorporated into the design.

Opening the residence towards the views was mandatory, but large glass openings also meant more opportunity for the scorching sun to heat up the space. The solution was to eliminate direct exposure to the sun rays by designing a fifteen-foot cantilever directly above the glass line.

With 6,208 square feet of habitable space, the house is actually composed of four different buildings, all united by the same giant roof. Two guest cottages are located to the north, the master suite is oriented to the south, and the socialization spaces (kitchen, living, dining and family areas) occupy the main building. This configuration allows for airy breezeways between the different volumes, while providing both privacy and excellent views.